London's answer to Tropfest - for expats

The judges are adamant. No more films of planes landing and taking off from Heathrow, nor shots of Antipodeans clubbing their way around London. And forget about comedies based around 'whingeing Poms'.

That's the blunt warning from the organisers of this year's UpOverDownUnder film festival, which opens on September 29 in London.

Now in its third year, the festival has grown from a one-night show held in a hall to this year's five-night event at a mainstream cinema complex in Fulham.

Festival director, Ms Vanessa Ardyn-Wood, said it provided a forum for Australians, New Zealanders and South Africans living in London to showcase their film-making talent, apart from providing a fresh perspective of life in the English capital.

Anyone who has lived in London and returned home could also enter, Ms Ardyn-Wood added.

"It's also a chance to challenge some of the stereotypes that the English have of Antipodeans," she said.

Entries must be based on the theme 'Take on London' and be between three and seven minutes long.

"We thought this theme had more scope because in the first year we called it 'Why are you in London?' and we got quite a lot of films of planes landing and taking off from Heathrow. We don't want that again," Ms Ardyn-Wood said.

The judges, Ms Ardyn-Wood said, were looking for an original idea with some comedy thrown in.

Like last year's winner, South African Jonathon Gilbert who dressed up as a squirrel and worked his way around London's nightlife - a big crowd pleaser apparently.

The festival would also showcase recent Australian and New Zealand films, including the first UK screening of Mick Molloy's bowling gagfest, Crackerjack, and some Tropfest films.

The UpOverDownUnder film festival runs from September 29 to October 3 at Warner Village cinema, Fulham. Entries close on September 8. For more information, visit http://www.upoverdownunder.co.uk.